Editor’s note: I’ve offered to interview or publish a statement from YogaGlo’s pov. We are not about taking sides, particularly, but rather about sharing truth and in so doing serving the greater good. ~ Waylon

I imagine you’re getting a lot of hate mail today following the news yesterday of the threat of legal action to one of your competitors.

Rest assured, this is not another angry letter, but rather a love letter.

I’ve loved YogaGlo since I first set foot in your Santa Monica studio five years ago. I’ve loved taking free classes at the studio since I moved to L.A. in 2010. I love the teachers you showcase and the variety of classes you offer. I love the clean looks of your videos. I’ve deeply appreciated things you’ve shared on Facebook. I loved the classes you sponsored at the Wisdom 2.0 conference in San Francisco in February.

There is no doubt that you fill a critical gap in providing top-rate yoga content from some of the most skilled instructors in the world, shot in an immaculate setting, to yogis worldwide who may not otherwise have access to it.

I’m grateful for what you do, and have referred friends, ex-colleagues and family members to subscribe to your site.

My first response to the news yesterday and your later response, was one of surprise and disgust. But upon seeing the continued discussion today, I am reminded that we all have moments where we lose clarity. We all get caught up in fear. That’s why so many of us come to yoga in the first place, right?

What I love about yoga is the space it provides to re-center, re-prioritize and re-align our energy. It seems to me your decision to make any threat of legal action to other online yoga broadcasters is one driven by fear. The yoga market is big, and it’s also fierce. As online broadcasting technology gets cheaper and more accessible, it makes sense that the number of competitors you face will expand rapidly. You’ve enjoyed a very comfortable spot in this marketplace, and I can understand your desire to remain at the top.

Every decision we make in life presents an opportunity to act from a place of love, rather than fear.

In this situation, it seems you’ve let fear get the better of you. What the yogic path gives us is clarity, the ability to see when we’ve strayed form the path of the heart, and let our interests get caught up in other things. You’ve made a poor decision in the eyes of many yogis, but we’re also a very forgiving bunch.

I can only speak for myself, but I suspect that many will honor your courage if you’re able to acknowledge that your actions were fear-driven, and take steps to re-align your business in a manner that promotes love, understanding and the basic yogic principles we all try to uphold.

What I’m encouraging you to do is exactly what yoga teachers remind us to do each time we practice—trust. Have the faith that your loyal students will stay with you because you offer something really and truly superb.

Know that even if every group yoga class video ever made going forward used your signature camera angle and studio set-up, your business will still thrive.

And, trust that if you issue an apology and rescind any legal actions against your competitors, those of us with a sour taste in our mouths following yesterday’s news will remember once again why we love you so much.

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About
Meredith Klein

Meredith Klein is passionate about helping individuals experience radical transformation through the practices of mindfulness and meditation. A student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Meredith teaches at retreats and workshops, in addition to offering one-on-one coaching. Meredith’s teaching is influenced by her studies of yoga, Ayurveda and nutrition, allowing her to help clients create balanced lifestyles that support their practice. As part of her business, pranaful, Meredith creates internationally-inspired, plant-based, organic cuisine for yoga retreats across the country, in addition to offering nourishment education workshops and consultations. It is Meredith’s deepest aspiration to see everyone she works with completely at home and healthy in their own skin, while thriving in the pursuit of passions that electrify their spirits.

Please get your facts straight Ms. Klein. 1. 'Competitor' is not accurate. 2. There is no 'hate mail' being sent. The responses are that YogaGlo stop their absurd nonsense with the patent. 3. YogaGlo has the right to offer streaming videos JUST LIKE ANY ONE ELSE. It's their stupidity and their lack of respect for a tradition that is the problem. 3. Yes, their business will probably still thrive/exist because of great and good teachers on the site NOT because of their greediness and their insensitivity to what Yoga really is.

Sour taste, uh, you could say that…I have never heard of Yoga Glo until now. This truly is not yoga, it is being a bully. Isn’t this what we try to teach our children NOT to be. So sad. Where is the peace in this… Yoga has deep roots and many branches. Yoga is much older than Yoga Glo. I hope they rescind their tactic and move from a place of compassion, kindness and class. No wonder I’ve never heard of them…

Content sells, not format…to me its all about how the experience lands with the practicioner…that cannot be patented. Too many examples of this error in business exist to continue repeating it. You are right that the FEAR of perception of limited resources drives loss of clarity.

Thanks for your thoughtful article Meredith! This is a PET PEEVE of mine and a form of it goes on in every healing modality…A wise friend once told me a"The only thing original is the caveman drawings" and I add and YOGA! I wish so much we could all stop worrying about others stealing our good…no one can "steal" your own good! It is such a waste of time and all while they could just be doing yoga instead of paying lawyers to write scary letters. I am so glad the letter was published, only public embarrassment will put a stop it by shedding light where darkness reigns. I will never be interested in this "brand " of yoga now.
Sat Nam!

"I think "No One Can Steal Your Own Good" should be a bumper sticker! And a motto for each of us to live by. "
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But Meredith its not about "Good" its about "Money"! Even this site! All about the Benjamins!

I trademarked my Yoga Studio name not so I can prevent people using it but to stop people from allowing ME to use it. I couldnt care less if someone used my name because I'M the asset, not my name.

It all goes down to intention. Sadly the actions Yogaglo took against the Himilayan Institute says it all.

It not hard to find a lawyer (especially in CA) who will convince their client that what they are doing is 'just & ok' & 'protecting your assets' & even warning Yogaglo that inevitably they might lose 10-15% of your subscriptions but gain an additional 30% of the 'mass market' of whom don't care about the ethics of their decision to patent something they didn't actually invent!

Yogaglo has unwittingly signed up for years of litigation which is exactly what the lawyers want. I've seen this happen many many times & its only going to hurt them in the end I'm afraid.

It's not too late for Yogaglo to retract however sadly I think the damage is done. bummer because it was such a great site